Shillong, March 6: The Congress might once again field its former MP for the upcoming bye-election to Shilllong Lok Sabha seat.
The party should field someone with parliamentary experience rather than a newcomer, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) secretary Manuel Badwar said while noting only two-and-a-half years remained in the term.
“A new candidate has to acclimatize to Delhi, network, learn the system—that’s extremely difficult in such a short window,” he said indicating former Union Minister of State’s experience at the Centre.
Reacting to speculation about him getting the ticket, he said, “It is a social‑media activity…we as a party have not discussed it at all.
Opining that discussion about the candidates is too early, especially in view of the sudden death of the previous MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon, he said, “I don’t think it is the right time…we have to give it some time, with all due respect to Dr Syngkon, who passed away.”
He linked the choice to two state demands – Inner Line Permit and inclusion of Khasi (and eventually Garo) in the Eighth Schedule.
“These are already in the pipeline. The BJP government will beat around the bush; we need an MP who can brief our hundred‑plus Congress MPs and allies right away,” Badwar said.
“Sooner or later Congress will be back in power in Delhi – and when that happens, we can push this agenda much faster,” he said, while emphasizing that sending a newcomer alone to parliament makes it far harder, it takes time to learn the system, build network, and be effective.
Badwar paid tribute to the late MP, calling the loss “bad luck for the state,” but said Meghalaya’s agenda “has nothing to do with state politics” and must continue.
He added that his view is personal.
“It is immature to say what the party thinks, but my strong point is we need somebody well‑versed, who has been in that line for quite some time. Let the party decide.”
Asked, Badwar said, “I can tell you for sure that when we do have the meeting these kinds of narratives from our side will go very strongly towards the party.”
“Let the party decide who is the best candidate,” he added.
